RECESSION: Living on minimum wage for Lent (From News Shopper)

RECESSION: Living on minimum wage for Lent

9:14am Wednesday 18th February 2009

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Most people have had to tighten their purse strings during the recession. For the six weeks of Lent reporter CHARLOTTE McDONALD will get a taste of life on minimum wage during these hard times.

Next Tuesday is one of my favourite days on the calendar - Pancake Day.

But after I have munched my way through a fair few crepes lathered in sugar and lemon, I will be preparing myself for a six-week Lent challenge.

As I am over 21, the national minimum wage for me is £5.73 an hour.

I have done the maths, and worked out that after paying rent, taxes, bills and my travel card, I will be left with less than £15 a week to pay for food and anything else I need.

This fills me with fear as I could easily spend more than that on a meal out with friends.

What will I gain from this exercise? I'll hopefully see what I spend my money on while appreciating what it feels like to be more restricted by cash.

I know that for some people, living and surviving on minimum wage is a harsh reality.

As a single, twenty-something living in London with few responsibilities, I like to go out and socialise, barely paying attention to how I spend my cash.

But making £15 last a whole week will mean making every penny count.

As the recession has started to change people's spending habits, I don't think I will be alone in trying to find enterprising ways of economising.

I have no children or relatives who rely on me, meaning I can spend all the money I earn to support myself.

Fortunately I have no mortgage or car and I share a flat with three others so we split the burden of utility bills and council tax.

In this respect I am lucky, but I am still not relishing the amount of cash I will have.

The Government has set £5.73 an hour as the minimum acceptable wage - let's see how far it goes living and working in a London borough.

Follow Charlotte's recession Lent challenge

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